Teachers Letter
Thank-you for your interest in the Idyllwild Nature Center for a possible field trip experience for your students. The center provides a perfect outdoor/indoor classroom full of opportunities for hands on learning experiences. Through various avenues of exploration, students will move from “aware of” learners to “participators in” and “master of” various environmental concepts.
Our activities include:
*Museum tour
*Nature walks with knowledgeable guides
*Classroom instruction based on student interests
*Crafts that pertain to science and nature
*Learning games to help master concepts
Scavenger hunts to involve all students in learning
Our goal is to provide a valuable learning experience utilizing the nature center, live animals, and the surrounding forest and trails. We tailor our programs for specific grade level needs. All programs offered are addapted to meet the grade level California Standards for Science, Life Science and Language Arts.
Topics Include:
Wildlife Habitats- Variables that create an ecosystem and specific suitable habitats; flora and fauna, environmental changes, survival, migration, relocation, interdependance and food chains/webs. Students will create their own mini-food chain/web using various materials provided.
Wetlands and the Water Shed-Students learn of the significance of our riparian habitats and their characteristics. Students design a habitat to support various types of wildlife and humans, identify major resources found in streams and rivers, make inferences about potential effects of these habitats on wild life and human partners.
Ecology and Ecosystems- The who, what, and where of producers and consumers and their limiting factors. Students will develop significant ideas on how energy is carried from resources to organisms.
The Cahuilla- A look at the life and culture of the Native Americans who inhabitated the San Gorgonio Pass, the San Jacinto Mountains and the Desert. Students will learn by participating in various activites that include processing seeds into grain using tradional stone implements, drilling holes using a pump drill, throwing a rabbit stick, and traditional native games.
Field trips are offered Tuesdays through Thursdays year round. We require reservations. The charge for each field trip is $5.00 for Students, $2.00 for accompanying adults, Teachers are free. Fees are payable by check on the day of the scheduled field trip.